The second season of the TV anime " The Apothecary Diaries ," based on the light novel by Natsu Hyuga, which was born from the novel submission site " Shosetsuka ni Naro ," will be broadcast on Nippon Television's anime slot "FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT (Fura-ani)" every Friday at 11:00 pm from January 10, 2025. The first season, which aired from October 2023 to March 2024, became a hot topic for its beautiful visual expression, the delicate acting of the voice actors, and the dramatic development, and became a work loved by people of all ages and genders. We asked Takeo Otsuka , who plays the popular character Jinshi , about the second season while looking back on the first season.
◇ I want to express myself clearly by facing each one
The setting of " The Apothecary Diaries" is the glamorous harem of a certain continent, where Maomao , a young poison taster, gets caught up in an incident that occurs in the harem, which is full of conspiracies and rumors, together with the handsome Aoi Yuki Jinshi. Jinshi, played by Otsuka, is so beautiful that it has been said that "if he were a woman, he would topple a nation." He brings all the troubles and problems that occur in the harem to Maomao, who solves them. Maomao.
In response to the popularity of the first season, Otsuka said, "I've received messages from friends and relatives saying they're watching it, and people in the same industry have also told me it's interesting. It was always a popular series, but I'm happy that more people are enjoying it than I expected."
There seems to be a lot of pressure as the second season is attracting more attention...
"I would like everyone to enjoy the second season even more, but what I do hasn't changed that much; I just have to face each one one by one. I have the sense I gained from the first season, and I hope to be even closer to the work. During the recording of the first season, I didn't know there was a second season, and I only found out after recording was over, so I was very happy at the time. The first season was recorded before the footage was complete, and when I saw the finished footage on air, it was so amazing that I couldn't miss a single cut. The work is full of highlights down to the smallest details, so there will continue to be that fun to be had, and the second season will include episodes that delve deeper into Jinshi, so I want to express that well."
◇Behind the scenes of famous scenes: The amazingness of Aoi Yuki
He said that the recording had "just the right amount of tension."
"When recording begins, the atmosphere is tense and everyone is in a good mood, so I feel comfortable while acting. After the test, there is some time before the actual performance, but during that time, everyone is having a good time, and it is a lively and stimulating set."
The first season had many memorable scenes, such as the confrontation between Jinshi and Rakan. Rakan is a capable man known as a military strategist, but he also behaves suspiciously and incomprehensibly. He is also Maomao's real father.
"We recorded alone with Takuya Kirimoto, who played the role of Rakan, and I felt the atmosphere and tension that Kirimoto created. It was one of the most memorable scenes. I always think about what kind of plan I should go with beforehand, but when we actually recorded together, there was a scene where Jinshi naturally responded to Rakan's words, and it was like something was created on the spot."
Aoi Yuki , who plays Maomao , is also a hot topic for her role. Maomao, who does not flatter, does not waver even in front of Jinshi. Jinshi sometimes shows his true colors in front of Maomao.
"I was able to record together with Yuki-san. I know I shouldn't say this, but Yuki-san is perfect. Her responses to orders and her acting is perfect for hitting the spot. When moving from monologue to lines, we may record separately depending on the location, but we basically record as is. The words come out as Maomao thinks, and every little detail, such as the timing of the words, is just right. So I can act in that atmosphere. As with Yuki-san, each actor is the role itself. Maomao talks all the time and creates the atmosphere, so the words come out naturally. I myself don't prepare too much before going to the set. It's important not to lose focus on the set, and that's what makes it interesting. "The Apothecary Diaries" is a dialogue play, so I'm very happy to be able to record with her."
◇ Jinshi gradually became accustomed to the situation.
The attention to detail in the visuals is also a big attraction of "The Apothecary Diaries." The director of the first season and general director of the second season is Norihiro Naganuma. He says that he was able to grasp the character of Jinshi thanks to Naganuma's direction on the spot.
"There was a scene in the beginning, around episodes 5 or 6, where Jinshi showed a childish side, but I was directed to 'show it more obviously,' and that was a realization for me. I think Jinshi is in some ways unfinished. His childish side sometimes comes out unintentionally. He has a firm idea of who he is as a person, but that doesn't mean he never wavers; he changes depending on the people around him. I sometimes wonder if it's okay for there to be a gap."
Jinshi is beautiful, intelligent and seems perfect. He is charming, but also mysterious, which is what makes him so appealing. In the original work, he is described as having a "sweet honey-like voice."
"I do think about what a 'voice like honey' means, but I try not to think about it too much. There are parts that seem perfect, but when you get to the bottom of it, it's not like that at all, and that's what makes it difficult. The character shows a variety of different expressions, more than I initially thought. There are parts that are childish, and parts that use my charm and are a little theatrical. The first season ran for two seasons, and as I played the role for so long, it gradually became more familiar to me."
It is said that the second season will show a different side to the character than the first season.
"I think we'll see more expressions and a new Jinshi from now on. I'm trying to act with that in mind. Director Naganuma has a clear theme for what he wants to show, so I've been able to act without wavering. As you can see from the PV, the second season has a serial, slightly dark atmosphere. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished video myself."
What is the "new Jinshi"? Will the mystery of Jinshi be revealed? Please pay attention to the developments in the second season.
